Railway car hand brake



Feb- 2, 1943. E. E. VAN cLEAvE 2,310,135

RAILWAY CAR HAND BRAKE.

Filed Aug. 13, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 il 44/ j lI l ,w 2 l/ 415 To RELEASE jrueN WHEEL Feb. 2, 1943. E, E, VAN CLEAVE 2,310,135

`RAILWAY GAR HAND BRAKE Filed Aug. 13, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 2, 1943 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE 2,310,135 RAILWAY CAR HAND BRAKE Edwin E. Van Cleave, Chicago, Ill. Application August 13, 19441, Serial No. 406,654

10 Claims.

'I'he invention relates generally to railway car 4 brakes and more particularly to mechanism for manually operating the brakes.

'Ihe general object of the invention is to provide a novel hand brake of the type permitting the operator to readily control the release of the brake, which brake operates easily and with a minimum of force required to effect release.

Another object is to provide a novel brake of this type, the movable parts of which are maintained in a properly lubricated condition, and friction and pressure surfaces utilized therein are amply protected from the weather to avoid corrosion.

It is also an object to provide a hand brake having a novel casing structure permitting ready inspection of the parts.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front view. partially in section, of a hand brake embodying the features of the invention, with the handwheel removed.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the hand brake.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the operating mechanism of the brake showing the positions of the parts when the brake is set.

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4 but showing the parts in the position when the brake is released.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing parts of the casing structure disassembled.

The railway car hand brake herein shown is of the type adapted to be mounted on the end of a car with the handwheel in a vertical position, that is, on a horizontal axis. The brake is also of that type in which the handwheel is rotated in one direction to set the brake and, to release the brake, the handwheel is rotated in the opposite direction to free parts of the device so that the load on the brake causes its release, the releasing movement being checked or stopped the moment the handwheel is stopped.

The brake comprises generally a casing structure in which is mounted winding mechanism and an operating mechanism to whichthe handwheel is connected. The winding mechanism includes a drum upon which is wound a chain connected with the brake mechanism under the car.

As shown in the drawings, the Winding mechanism comprises a drum III rigid with a gear II and with a shaft I2 iournaled at its ends in the casing structure. To turn the winding mechanism, I provide an operating mechanism including a pinion I3 mounted on a shaft Il. The shaft is journaled in the casing structure and has its front end extending forwardly thereof and provided with a squared tapered portion I5 upon which is mounted a handwheel I6. The pinion I3 and the shaft I4 are so connected as to permit slight relative rotation therebetween to cause held by the pawl against reverse rotation. By

turning'the handwheel and shaft in the opposite direction, the pinion is freed from the ratchet and the load on the winding mechanism causes rotation and consequent release of the brake. Whenever the handwheel is stopped, the rotation of the pinion I3 caused by the brake load effects a, reclamping of the pinion against the ratchet and prevents further unwinding. However, should the handwheel be continued in its rotation in the releasing direction, the pinion is maintained free of the ratchet so that the pinion and winding mechanism may rotate freely in the releasing direction. I

In the preferred construction the relative rotation and lrelative longitudinal movement between the pinion I3 and the shaft I 4 is effected by means of threading the rear end of the shaft into the pinion. Thus when the shaft I4 is rotated relative to the pinion, the latter is caused to move longitudinally along the shaft. The shaft I4 is also provided with a collar 22 adapted to force the ratchet Il, which is free for limited movement longitudinally of the shaft, into clamping engagement with a collar 23 formed on the adjacent face of the pinion. As shown in the drawings, the threads on the shaft, indicated at 24, are of the right-hand type so that rotating the handwheel clockwise causes the pinion to move forwardly on the shaft. The ratchet I'I is thus clamped between the shaft collar 22 and the pinion collar 23 so that 'the pawl I8, acting through the ratchet I'I, will thereby hold the pinion against reverse or counterclockwise rotation.

When the handwheel is rotated counterclockwise, the threaded connection between the pinion I3 and the shaft I4 causes the pinion to move rearwardly on the shaft so that the shaftgollar 22 and the pinion collar 23 move farther apart to free the ratchet I1. The pinion is therefore free to rotate under the effect of the load transmitted to it through he gear II. So long as the handwheel is continued in its counterclockwise rotation, the pinion is free to rotate under the effect of the load. However, should rotation of the handwheel be stopped, the rotation of the pinion I3 by the load causes the pinion to move forwardly on the shaft and into reclamping engagement with the ratchet I1. Thus this construction permits a partial release of the load to any desired point and avoids any tendency of the handwheel to spin under the effect of the load.

Since the ratchet I1 is held against counterclockwise rotation, and since the ratchet is clamped to the pinion by the shaft collar 22, I provide, as one of the features of the invention, a means to facilitate relative rotation between the collar 22 and the ratchet I1 so that the b rake may be readily released without necessitating a heavy pressure on the handwheel to turn it in a counterclockwise direction, To this end, said means comprises elements providing relatively smooth surfaces so that there may be relative rotation therebetween even though they are under heavy clamping pressure. Thus I provide a ground steel disk 25 mounted between the collar 22 and the ratchet I1, and an element providing a smooth surface cooperating with the disk 25. This element and the disk 25 thus provide smooth surfaces which may be relatively rotated with a minimum of force even although under a clamping load. In the preferred form shown in the drawing I provide two such elements, indicated at 26, respectively mounted adjacent the ratchet I1 and the collar 22 with the ground steel disk 25 located therebetween. The disks 26 are preferably made of a composition material such as a molded phenolic compound.

The advantage of using this construction lies not only in the fact that it facilitates the release of the brake without exerting excessive pressure on the handwheel, but also in the fact that the construction is relatively cheap, and further in the fact that the parts thereof will not readily corrode. Thus, while the face of the collar 22 could be ground, it would be much more expensive to do so than to provide a separate ground disk such as the disk 25. The composition elements 25 are non-corrodable and protect the ground faces of the disk 25 from moisture and dirt.`

Moreover, a ground face corrodes less easily than an ordinary turned face. Furthermore, the disk 25 may be made of such quality steel that it may be readily hardened as a further protection against corrosion or wear caused by dirt, whereas the collar 22 could not so readily be hardened.

A further feature of the invention lies in the fact that the composition elements 25, the disk 25, and a portion of the collar 22 lie within a recess 21 cut in the face of the ratchet I1 so that moisture and dirt cannot readily gain access thereto.

On the other side of the ratchet I1'a similar recess 28 is provided to receive the pinion collar 23 and a facing 30 therefor of suitable frictional material, which may -be of a molded phenolic composition. As a further feature in effecting the ready release of the brake, I make the collar 22 with the composition elements 2l and the disk 25 of much smaller diameter than the pinion collar 23. Since the collar 22 exerts the same Brakes of this character have to be made in.

such a manner that they do not require frequent lubrication to keep them serviceable. In order to maintain the threaded connection of the pinion and shaft readily movable, I provide novel lubricating means therefor. Thus in the ratchet I provide an annular chamber 3l opening toward the shaft. This chamber may be packed with suitable semi-permanent lubricant when the brake is assembled. The thread groove cut in the pinion is of such depth as to provide clearance, indicated at 32, between the bottom of the groove and the ends of the threads. Such clearance is carried to the front end of the pinion and is in communication with the annular lubricant chamber 3l in the ratchet. Thus lubricant is carried from the chamber 3I along the threads and maintains them in a freely operable condition. Also, I may provide a recess 29 in the pinion midway between its ends so that lubricant may work both ways therefrom and cooperate with the` recess 3| and clearance 32 t0 keep the threads lubricated.

In this type of brake the pinion is of relatively small diameter and consequently of a small number of teeth in order to obtain the desired ratio between the pinion and the gear II. Because of the size of the threads 24 on the shaft I4, the hub of the pinion is relatively thin. In order to give the teeth sufficient support, a shroud or iiange 33 is provided at the rear end of the teeth, while the front ends of the teeth are supported by the collar 23. The shaft I4 at its rear end is provided with a collar 34 rigidlysecured to the shaft as by being threaded thereon and pinned thereto. The collar 34 is journaled in a bearing 35 in the rear portion of the casing. When the shaft isturned in a counterclockwise direction to release the brake, and the pinion is moved rearwardly on the shaft, it is preferable not to permit the pinion to move into contact with the rear wall of the casing since such contact might cause the casing to be sp1-1mg. To avoid this difficulty, I make the collar 24 of larger diameter than the shaft to serve as a stop for the pinion. 'I'hus the shroud 33 on the rear -end of the pinion provides a suitable abutment to coact with the collar 34. Preferably I provide a small recess 3l in the rear face of the shroud 33 to receive the front face of the collar 34.

The casing structure of the brake embodies novel features facilitating assembly of the brake and providing for ready inspection of the parts thereof. Thus the casing structure comprises a generaly flat rear plate 43 adapted to be mounted atwise against the end face of the car. In its lower portion, the rear plate 4l is dished forwardly as at 4I to provide for sufficient length and support for the rear bearing of the winding mechanism shaft I2.

The casing structure also includes a front member 42 open at its bottom to permit the extension therethrough of the chain connected to the brake and bulged forwardly in its lower portion, as at 43. to provide suiiicient space for the winding mechanism. At its sides the front memits two lower corners and at two points adjacent its upper end, the ilange area extends inwardly,

as at 4l, to provide enlarged areas throughl which rivets may extend for rigidly connecting the rear plate and front member together and through which may extend bolts for securing the brake to the car. To facilitate assembly of the rear plate vand front member, the rear plate at its upper corners is notched. as at 45, and the iianges on the sides of the front member are oifset inwardly at their upper ends to provide positioning'lugs 46 interiitting with the notches 45.

'I'he cover, indicated at 50, is adapted to telescope over the upper edge of the front member andrear plate. In order that the rear edge of the cover may liein the same plane as the rear face of the rear plate 40, the upper marginal portion of the rear plate is offset inwardly, as at 5I, to provide for the thickness of the cover.

'I'he cover is arranged so that it may be removed to permit inspection of the operating mechanism. To secure it in place and still permit its ready removal, lugs 52 are provided at the two front corners of both the front member I2 and the cover 50 and bolts 53 extend therethrough to secure the lugs rigidly together.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that I have provided a novel railway car hand brake in which the operator has complete control of the release oi' the brake without any tendency of` the load tp cause the handwheel to spin. Re-

lease may be effected to the extent desired by the operator, and the brake will automatically relcck at any point at which the operator ceases to rotate` the handwheel. The force required on the part of the operator to turn the handwheel in a releasing direction is held to a minimum by virtue of the use of the composition elements 26 and the ground disk 25. These elements are of such material and are so placed as to avoid corrosion and are protected against moisture. The threaded connection between the pinion and the operating shaft is maintained in a lubricated condition by virtue of the annular lubricant supply chamber 3i in the ratchet and the clearance 32 in the threads. 'Ihe casing structure of the brake is of such construction that it facilitates assembly of the parts and provides for ready inspection of the operating mechanism.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a railway car hand brake provided with winding mechanism, the combination of an operating shaft having a collar, a pinion threaded on said operating shaft and having a collar, a ratchet mounted on said shaft between said collars and adapted to be clamped to the pinion collar when the operating shaft is rotated in one direction relative to the pinion, and means to facilitate turning movement of the shaft collar relative to the ratchet to release the pinion, said means being interposed between said shaft collar and the ratchet and comprising a pair of composition disks respectively bearing against the shaft collar and the ratchet, and a ground steel disk interposed between the composition disks.

2. In a railway car hand brake provided with winding mechanism, the combination of an operating shaft having a collar, a pinion threaded on said operating shaft and having a collar, a ratchet mounted on said shaft lbetween said collars and adapted to be clamped to the pinion collar when the operating shaft is rotated in one direction relative to the pinion, and means to facilitate turning movement of the shaft collar relative to the ratchet to release the pinion, said means being interposed between said shaft collar and the ratchet and comprlsing a pair of disks respectively bearing against the shaft collar and the ratchet, and a third -disk interposed between said pair of disks, the pair of disks being made of a different material from said third disk and the abutting faces of the three disks being relatively smoth to facilitate relative turning movement between the shaft collar and the ratchet to unclampl the pinion and ratchet.-

3. In a railway car handV brake provided with winding mechanism, operating mechanism comprising, in combination, an operating shaft, a pinion connected to said shaft to move longitudinally of the shaft upon relative rotation therebetween, a ratchet mounted on said shaft and adapted to be clamped to and unclamped from the pinion by such longitudinal movement, a collar on said shaft to clamp the ratchet against the pinion, and means to facilitate turning movement of the collar relative to the ratchet in a direction to unclamp said pinion and ratchet, said means comprising a pair of elements providing relatively smooth surfaces on the collar and ratchet respectively, and a ground steel disk interposed between said surfaces.

4. In a railway car hand brake provided with winding mechanism, operating mechanism comprising, in combination, an operating shaft, a pinion connected to said shaft to move longitudinally of the shaft upon relative rotation therebetween, a ratchet member adapted to be clamped to and unclamped from the pinion by such longitudinal movement, va collar'member on said shaft to clamp the ratchet member against the pinion, and means to facilitate relative turning movement of said members in a direction to unclamp said pinion and said ratchet member, said means comprising an element providing a relatively smooth surface on one of said members, and a ground steel disk interposed between said surface and the other member.

5. In a railway car hand brake provided with winding mechanism, operating mechanism therefor comprising an operating shaft having one end threaded and having a collar spaced from said threaded end, a pinion mounted on the threaded end of the shaft and provided with a collar, and a ratchet mounted on said shaft between said collars and adapted to be clamped to said pinion by the shaft collar upon relative rotation between said pinion and said shaft. said ratchet being provided with an annular lubricant chamber opening onto said shaft and the pinion being provided with clearance at the tops of the threads, said clearance extending to and connecting with said lubricant chamber whereby the threads are maintained in a lubricated condition.

6. In a railway car hand brake provided with winding mechanism, operating mechanism therefor comprising an operating shaft having one end threaded and having a collar spaced from said threaded end, a pinion mounted on the threaded end of the shaft and provided with a collar, and a ratchet mounted on said shaft between said collars and adapted to be clamped to said pinion by the shaft collar upon relative rotation between said pinion and said shaft, said ratchet being provided with an annular lubricant chamber opening onto said shaft and the pinion being provided midway between its ends with a similar chamber and having clearance at the top of the threads, said ciearance'connecting said chambers whereby the threads are maintained in a lubricated condition.

7. In a railway car handbrake provided with winding mechanism, operating mechanism therefor comprising an operating shaft having one end threaded and having a collar spaced from said threaded end, a. pinion mounted on the threaded end of the shaft and provided with a collar, and a ratchet mounted on said shaft between said collars and adapted to be clamped to said pinion by the shaft collar upon relative rotation between said pinion and said shaft, said pinion having an annular lubricant chamber midway between its ends opening onto the threads and the pinion being provided with clearance at the top of the threads whereby lubricant from the chamber may work both ways along the threads to maintain them in a lubricated condition.

8. In a railway car hand brake comprising, in combination, a casing comprising front and rear walls, a winding mechanism mounted in said casing, and operating mechanism mounted in said casing and comprising an operating shaft journaled in said front wall, a collar xed on the rear end of said shaft and journaled in the rear wall, a ratchet mounted on said shaft and a pinion mounted on said shaft for movement longitudinally thereof and adapted to be clamped to the ratchet upon relative rotation between said shaft and said pinion, said pinion being provided with a shroud at its rear end supporting the teeth thereof and having a recess to receive the end of the shaft collar, the shaft collar serving as a stop for the longitudinal movement of the pinion away from the ratchet.

9. @railway car hand brake comprising, in combination, a casing structure comprising a rear plate, a front member, and a cover, and winding and operating mechanisms mounted within the casing structure and rotatably supported by said rear plate and said front member, said front member being provided with flanged portions secured against the face of the rear plate, the upper corners oi' said rear plate being notched to receive positioning lugs on the front member. the upper marginal portion of the rear plate being offset forwardly to permit the cover to telescope over the front-member and rear plate, and means for detachably securing the cover to the front member.

10. A railway car hand brake comprising, in combination, a casing structure comprising a rear plate, a front member, and a-cover. and winding and operating mechanisms mounted within the casing structure and rotatably supported by said rear plate and s aid front member, said front member'being provided with flanged portions' at its sides lying against the face of the rear plate and secured thereto and also providing space for securing the brake to the car, the upper corners of said rear plate being notched and the flanged portions of the front member being shaped at their upper ends to fit in 'said notches, the upper edge portion of said rear plate being offset for wardly, and the cover telescoping over said upper edge portion and the upper edge of the front member, and means at the front corners of said cover and said front member for detachably securing the cover in place.

EDWIN E. VAN CLEAVE. 

